Protecting private information provided on a transaction card and/or a document with a reflective element

ABSTRACT

A transaction card includes a card body, where the card body includes a surface with a first surface area. The surface of the card body includes private information that encompasses a second surface area of the surface, and the second surface area is less than the first surface area. The transaction card includes a reflective element that is applied to the surface of the card body, and includes a third surface area. The third surface area is based on the first surface area or the second surface area, and the third surface area enables the reflective element to reflect light away from the private information.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/913,549 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,095,964), filed Mar. 6, 2018, which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

One of the easiest and fastest ways to steal transaction cardinformation (e.g., a credit card number), when in physical proximity tothe transaction card, is to capture an image of the transaction cardwith an image capture device (e.g., a smartphone with a camera). This isfaster than writing down the transaction card information, and thus iseasier to do without being noticed. In certain scenarios (e.g., when thetransaction card is located in a background of an image), a person maybe able to capture an image of the transaction card without arousingsuspicion. Furthermore, confidential information provided in a documentmay be easily copied by someone gaining access to the document andcapturing an image of the document with an image capture device.

SUMMARY

According to some implementations, a transaction card may include a cardbody, and the card body may include a surface with a first surface area.The surface of the card body may include private information thatencompasses a second surface area of the surface, and the second surfacearea may be less than the first surface area. The transaction card mayinclude a reflective element, and the reflective element may be appliedto the surface of the card body. The reflective element may include athird surface area. The third surface area may be based on the firstsurface area or the second surface area, and the third surface area mayenable the reflective element to reflect light away from the privateinformation.

According to some implementations, a document may include a documentsubstrate, and the document substrate may include a surface with a firstsurface area. The surface of the document substrate may include privateinformation that encompasses a second surface area of the surface, andthe second surface area may be less than the first surface area. Thedocument may include a reflective element, and the reflective elementmay be applied to the surface of the document substrate or embeddedwithin the document substrate. The reflective element may include athird surface area, and the third surface area may be based on the firstsurface area or the second surface area. The third surface area mayenable the reflective element to reflect light away from the privateinformation.

According to some implementations, a method may include determining afirst surface area of a surface of a substrate. The substrate mayinclude a body of a transaction card or paper of a document, and thesurface of the substrate may include private information thatencompasses a second surface area of the surface. The method may includedetermining the second surface area, and the second surface area may beless than the first surface area. The method may include calculating athird surface area of a reflective element to be applied to thesubstrate, where the third surface area may be calculated based on thefirst surface area or the second surface area. The method may includeapplying the reflective element to the surface of the substrate, wherethe reflective element may reflect light away from the privateinformation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1I are diagrams of an overview of an example implementationdescribed herein;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example environment in which systems and/ormethods, described herein, may be implemented;

FIG. 3 is a diagrams of example components of one or more devices ofFIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an example process for protecting privateinformation provided on a transaction card and/or a document with areflective element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of example implementations refers tothe accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in differentdrawings may identify the same or similar elements.

A person may be prevented from capturing an image of a transaction cardby not permitting the person access to the transaction card. However,preventing people from gaining access to a transaction card is notpossible when the transaction card needs to be used for a transaction(e.g., paying a bill at a restaurant, a bar, and/or the like). A personcan be prevented from capturing an image of a document by providingadequate security for the document (e.g., preventing access to thedocument via surveillance systems, secure facilities, and/or the like).However, preventing people from gaining access to a document is notpossible when the people illegally gain access to the document.

Some implementations described herein may protect private informationprovided on a transaction card and/or a document with a reflectiveelement. For example, a transaction card may include a card body and areflective element. The card body may include a surface with a firstsurface area, and the surface of the card body may include privateinformation that encompasses a second surface area of the surface. Thereflective element may be applied to the surface of the card body, andmay include a third surface area. The third surface area may enable thereflective element to reflect light away from the private information.In another example, a document may include a document substrate and areflective element. The document substrate may include a surface with afirst surface area, and the surface of the document substrate mayinclude private information that encompasses a second surface area ofthe surface. The reflective element may be applied to the surface of thedocument substrate or embedded within the document substrate, and mayinclude a third surface area. The third surface area may enable thereflective element to reflect light away from the private information.

FIGS. 1A-1I are diagrams of an overview of an example implementation 100described herein. As shown in FIG. 1A, and by reference numbers 105 and110, a substrate with private information may be associated with adevice. In some implementations, the substrate may include any objectthat includes private information. For example, the substrate mayinclude a transaction card (e.g., a credit card, a debit card, a giftcard, an automated teller machine (ATM) card, a rewards card, a clientloyalty card, and/or the like), a social security card, an insurancecard, a driver's license, a passport, a document, and/or the like. Insome implementations, the private information may include an accountnumber associated with a transaction card, a name associated with atransaction card, an expiration date associated with a transaction card,a card verification value (CVV) or a card verification code (CVC)associated with a transaction card, a social security number associatedwith a social security card, a name associated with a social securitycard, an account identifier associated with an insurance card, a nameassociated with an insurance card, a group identifier associated with aninsurance card, a driver's license number associated with a driver'slicense, a picture associated with a passport, a name associated with apassport, a passport number associated with a passport, trade secretinformation, intellectual property information, financial information,customer lists, and/or the like.

As further shown in FIG. 1A, and by reference number 115, the device maydetermine a surface area of a surface of the substrate. In someimplementations, the device may include a sensor (e.g., an opticalsensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and/or the like) to measure a length and awidth of the surface of the substrate, and may determine the surfacearea of the surface of the substrate based on the length and the widthmeasured by the sensor. In some implementations, the sensor may beseparate from the device. In such implementations, the device mayreceive, from the sensor, information indicating a length and a width ofthe surface of the substrate, and may determine the surface area of thesurface of the substrate based on the length and the width received fromthe sensor.

As further shown in FIG. 1A, and by reference number 120, the device maydetermine a surface area of the private information. In someimplementations, the device may include a sensor (e.g., an opticalsensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and/or the like) to measure one or morelengths and widths of the private information, and may determine thesurface area of the private information based on the one or more lengthsand widths measured by the sensor. In some implementations, the sensormay be separate from the device. In such implementations, the device mayreceive, from the sensor, information indicating one or more lengths andwidths of the private information, and may determine the surface area ofthe private information based on the one or more lengths and widthsreceived from the sensor.

In some implementations, the surface area of the surface of thesubstrate and the surface area of the private information may bepredetermined based on manufacturing specifications of the substratewith the private information. In such implementations, the device maydetermine the surface area of the surface of the substrate and thesurface area of the private information based on the manufacturingspecifications or by looking up the information in a data structure.

As shown in FIG. 1B, and by reference number 125, the device maycalculate a surface area of a reflective element, to be applied to thesubstrate, based on the surface area of the surface of the substrateand/or the surface area of the private information. In someimplementations, the reflective element may include textual information(e.g., a name of an entity associated with a transaction card, a name ofan entity associated with a document, a textual logo of an entityassociated with a transaction card or a document, and/or the like),graphical information (e.g., a graphical logo of an entity associatedwith a transaction card or a document, an image, and/or the like), acombination of textual information and graphical information, and/or thelike.

In some implementations, the reflective element may include a materialthat reflects light away from areas around the reflective element. Insuch implementations, and when the reflective element is applied to aportion of the substrate, the reflective element may include a materialthat reflects light away from portions of the substrate (e.g., includingthe private information) other than the portion of the substrate wherethe reflective element is applied. For example, the reflective elementmay include biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate, aluminum,reflective micro-glass beads, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, lithopone,and/or the like.

Biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (also known as Mylar®) isa polyester film made from stretched polyethylene terephthalate.Aluminum is a chemical element that is a soft, nonmagnetic, ductilemetal in the boron group. Reflective micro-glass beads are glassmicrospheres that cause a surface to reflect light back to a source ofthe light. Titanium dioxide, also known as titanium(IV) oxide ortitania, is the naturally occurring oxide of titanium. Zinc oxide is aninorganic compound that occurs naturally as the mineral zincite, but maybe produced synthetically. Lithopone is a mixture of inorganiccompounds, composed of a mixture of (e.g., produced by co-precipitationof) barium sulfate and zinc sulfide. In some implementations, thematerial for the reflective element may be selected based on cost, easeof application, durability, and/or the like.

In some implementations, the calculated surface area of the reflectiveelement may depend on a distance between the reflective element and theprivate information, the surface area of the private information, anamount of light expected to be reflected by the reflective element(e.g., an amount of light provided by a flash of an image detectiondevice, an amount of light provided by direct sunlight, and/or thelike), and/or the like. In such implementations, the calculated surfacearea of the reflective element may ensure that the reflective elementreflects light away from the private information so that an imagecapture device may not capture an image of the private information.

As further shown in FIG. 1B, and by reference number 135, the device mayapply the reflective element to the surface of the substrate. In someimplementations, the device may include a machine that manufactures thesubstrate and applies the reflective element to the substrate. In someimplementations, the device may be associated with a machine thatapplies the reflective element to the substrate, and may cause themachine to apply the reflective element to the substrate.

In some implementations, the reflective element may be applied to thesurface of the substrate by painting the reflective element on thesurface of the substrate. In such implementations, the material of thereflective element may initially be in a liquid form so that thereflective element may be painted on the surface of substrate. Once thereflective element is painted on the surface of the substrate, thereflective element may dry and adhere to the surface of the substrate.In some implementations, painting the reflective element on the surfaceof the substrate may be cost effective, may provide ease of application,may enable efficient manufacturing, and/or the like.

In some implementations, the reflective element may be applied to thesurface of the substrate via a hot lamination technique or a coldlamination technique. In such implementations, heat, pressure, welding,and/or adhesives may be applied to adhere the reflective element to thesurface of the substrate. For example, a hot lamination technique mayinclude using a heated roll laminator to melt glue extruded ontolamination film. In this case, the lamination film may then be appliedto a substrate using pressure rollers. As another example, a coldlamination technique may include using a cold roll laminator to apply afilm to the surface of the substrate. In this case, the film may becoated with an adhesive from which a non-adhesive backing is removedbefore applying the film to the surface of the substrate. In someimplementations, applying the reflective element on the surface of thesubstrate via a hot lamination technique or a cold lamination techniquemay be cost effective, may provide ease of application, may enableefficient manufacturing, and/or the like.

In some implementations, the reflective element may be applied to thesurface of the substrate by screen printing the reflective element onthe surface of the substrate. In such implementations, a screen may beused to apply the reflective element to the surface of the substrate.Screen printing is a printing technique whereby, for example, a screen(e.g., a mesh stretched over a frame) is used to transfer a substance(e.g., ink) onto a substrate, except in areas made impermeable to thesubstance by a blocking stencil. In this case, a blade or squeegee maybe moved across the screen to fill the open mesh apertures with thesubstance, and a reverse stroke may then be used to cause the screen totouch the substrate momentarily along a line of contact. This may causethe substance to wet the substrate and be pulled out of the meshapertures as the screen springs back after the blade has passed. In someimplementations, screen printing the reflective element on the surfaceof the substrate may be cost effective, may provide ease of application,may enable efficient manufacturing, and/or the like.

In some implementations, the reflective element may be applied to thesurface of the substrate by adhering the reflective element on thesurface of the substrate. In such implementations, the reflectiveelement may be adhered on the surface of the substrate with an adhesive,such as a natural adhesive (e.g., vegetable starch, a natural resin,and/or the like), a synthetic adhesive (e.g., an elastomer, athermoplastic, an emulsion, a thermoset, and/or the like), and/or thelike. In some implementations, adhering the reflective element on thesurface of the substrate may be cost effective, may provide ease ofapplication, may enable efficient manufacturing, and/or the like.

In some implementations, the reflective element may be applied as awatermark in the substrate. A watermark is an image or a pattern in amaterial, such as an image that appears as various shades of lightnessor darkness when viewed by transmitted light (or when viewed byreflected light, atop a dark background), caused by thickness or densityvariations in the material. In this case, the reflective element may beapplied as an image or a pattern in the surface of the substrate. As oneexample, a dandy roll process may include impressing a water-coatedmetal stamp onto the material during manufacturing. As another example,a cylinder mold process may include using a roll with areas of relief inthe surface of the roll. In some implementations, applying thereflective element on the surface of the substrate as a watermark may becost effective, may provide ease of application, may enable efficientmanufacturing, and/or the like.

In some implementations, the reflective element may be sized inaccordance with the calculated surface area of the reflective element,as described elsewhere herein. In some implementations, the reflectiveelement may be applied to the surface of the substrate at a distancefrom the private information. In such implementations, the distancebetween the reflective element and private information may ensure thatthe reflective element reflects light away from the private informationso that an image capture device may not capture an image of the privateinformation. In some implementations, the distance may be calculated asa function of a size of the reflective element, a size of the privateinformation, a size of the substrate, the expected light to be reflectedby the reflective element, and/or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1C, and by reference number 140, assume that anotherdevice (e.g., a smartphone with a camera) is utilized to capture animage of the substrate. For example, a user of the smartphone mayutilize the camera to capture the image of the substrate. When the imageis captured, the reflective element may reflect light away from theprivate information of the substrate. As further shown in FIG. 1C, andby reference number 145, the image captured by the other device mayinclude a visible image of the reflective element, but may not includean image of the private information (e.g., the private information maybe obscured). In this way, the reflective element may ensure that theprivate information may not be easily obtained by the user of the otherdevice.

As shown in FIG. 1D, and by reference number 150, assume that thesubstrate is a transaction card associated with a consumer, and that thetransaction card includes a card body with private information (notshown) and a reflective element. Further assume that the consumer isutilizing the transaction card to complete (e.g., pay for) atransaction. As further shown in FIG. 1D, and by reference number 155,the consumer may provide the transaction card to a sales person in orderto complete the transaction.

As shown in FIG. 1E, and by reference number 160, assume that the salesperson is dishonest and uses a device (e.g., a smartphone with a camera)to capture an image of the transaction card. For example, the salesperson may utilize the camera of the smartphone to capture the image ofthe transaction card (e.g., without the consumer seeing the sales personutilizing the camera). When the image is captured, the reflectiveelement may reflect light away from the private information of thetransaction card. As further shown in FIG. 1E, and by reference number165, the sales person may return the transaction card to the consumerafter capturing the image of the transaction card and after completingthe transaction (e.g., utilizing the transaction card to pay for thetransaction).

As shown in FIG. 1F, and by reference number 170, when the sales personutilizes the device to view a resulting image of the transaction card,the resulting image may include a visible image of the reflectiveelement, but may not include an image of the private information (e.g.,the private information may be obscured) of the transaction card. Inthis way, the reflective element may ensure that the private informationof the transaction card may not be easily obtained by the sales person.

As shown in FIG. 1G, and by reference numbers 175 and 180, assume that athief breaks into a company and obtains a confidential document. Theconfidential document may include a document substrate (e.g., paper)with private information (e.g., expected company sales and expectedcompany profits) and a reflective element. Further assume that the thiefwishes to capture an image of the confidential document in order tosteal the private information.

As shown in FIG. 1H, and by reference number 185, the thief may utilizea device (e.g., a smartphone with a camera) to capture an image of theconfidential document. For example, the thief may utilize the camera ofthe smartphone to capture the image of the confidential document. Whenthe image is captured, the reflective element may reflect light awayfrom the private information of the confidential document.

As shown in FIG. 1I, and by reference number 190, when the thiefutilizes the device to view a resulting image of the confidentialdocument, the resulting image may include a visible image of thereflective element, but may not include an image of the privateinformation (e.g., the private information may be obscured) of theconfidential document. In this way, the reflective element may ensurethat the private information of the confidential document may not beeasily obtained by the thief.

As indicated above, FIGS. 1A-1I are provided merely as examples. Otherexamples are possible and may differ from what was described with regardto FIGS. 1A-1I.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example environment 200 in which systemsand/or methods, described herein, may be implemented. As shown in FIG.2, environment 200 may include multiple devices 210 and a network 220.Devices of environment 200 may interconnect via wired connections,wireless connections, or a combination of wired and wirelessconnections.

Device 210 includes one or more devices capable of receiving,generating, storing, processing, and/or providing information, such asinformation described herein. For example, device 210 may include adevice, such as a mobile phone (e.g., a smart phone, a radiotelephone,etc.), a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, ahandheld computer, a gaming device, a wearable communication device(e.g., a smart wristwatch, a pair of smart eyeglasses, etc.), a globalpositioning system (GPS) device, a server device, a group of serverdevices, a network device (e.g., a firewall, a router, a gateway, aswitch, a hub, a bridge, a reverse proxy, a proxy server, a securitydevice, an intrusion detection device, a load balancer, etc.), an imagecapture device, a video capture device, a device for manufacturingtransaction cards or paper, a device for printing documents, or asimilar type of device.

In some implementations, device 210 may receive information from and/ortransmit information to another device 210 in environment 200. In someimplementations, one or more of the functions performed by device 210may be hosted in a cloud computing environment or may be partiallyhosted in a cloud computing environment. In some implementations, device210 may be a physical device implemented within a housing, such as achassis. In some implementations, device 210 may be a virtual deviceimplemented by one or more computer devices of a cloud computingenvironment or a data center.

Network 220 includes one or more wired and/or wireless networks. Forexample, network 220 may include may include a cellular network (e.g., along-term evolution (LTE) network, a 3G network, a code divisionmultiple access (CDMA) network, etc.), a public land mobile network(PLMN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), ametropolitan area network (MAN), a telephone network (e.g., the PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN)), a private network, an ad hocnetwork, an intranet, the Internet, a fiber optic-based network, a cloudcomputing network, and/or the like, and/or a combination of these orother types of networks.

The number of devices and networks shown in FIG. 2 are provided as anexample. In practice, there may be additional devices and/or networks,fewer devices and/or networks, different devices and/or networks, ordifferently arranged devices and/or networks than those shown in FIG. 2.Furthermore, two or more devices shown in FIG. 2 may be implementedwithin a single device, or a single device shown in FIG. 2 may beimplemented as multiple, distributed devices. Additionally, one or moreof the devices of environment 200 may perform one or more functionsdescribed as being performed by another one or more devices ofenvironment 200.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of example components of a device 300. Device 300may correspond to device 210. In some implementations, device 210 mayinclude one or more devices 300 and/or one or more components of device300. As shown in FIG. 3, device 300 may include a bus 310, a processor320, a memory 330, a storage component 340, an input component 350, anoutput component 360, and a communication interface 370.

Bus 310 includes a component that permits communication among thecomponents of device 300. Processor 320 is implemented in hardware,firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. Processor 320 is acentral processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), anaccelerated processing unit (APU), a microprocessor, a microcontroller,a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array(FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or anothertype of processing component. In some implementations, processor 320includes one or more processors capable of being programmed to perform afunction. Memory 330 includes a random access memory (RAM), a read onlymemory (ROM), and/or another type of dynamic or static storage device(e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, and/or an optical memory) thatstores information and/or instructions for use by processor 320.

Storage component 340 stores information and/or software related to theoperation and use of device 300. For example, storage component 340 mayinclude a hard disk (e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, amagneto-optic disk, and/or a solid state disk), a compact disc (CD), adigital versatile disc (DVD), a floppy disk, a cartridge, a magnetictape, and/or another type of non-transitory computer-readable medium,along with a corresponding drive.

Input component 350 includes a component that permits device 300 toreceive information, such as via user input (e.g., a touch screendisplay, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a switch, and/or amicrophone). Additionally, or alternatively, input component 350 mayinclude a sensor for sensing information (e.g., a global positioningsystem (GPS) component, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and/or anactuator). Output component 360 includes a component that providesoutput information from device 300 (e.g., a display, a speaker, and/orone or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs)).

Communication interface 370 includes a transceiver-like component (e.g.,a transceiver and/or a separate receiver and transmitter) that enablesdevice 300 to communicate with other devices, such as via a wiredconnection, a wireless connection, or a combination of wired andwireless connections. Communication interface 370 may permit device 300to receive information from another device and/or provide information toanother device. For example, communication interface 370 may include anEthernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, aninfrared interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, a universal serialbus (USB) interface, a Wi-Fi interface, a cellular network interface,and/or the like.

Device 300 may perform one or more processes described herein. Device300 may perform these processes based on processor 320 executingsoftware instructions stored by a non-transitory computer-readablemedium, such as memory 330 and/or storage component 340. Acomputer-readable medium is defined herein as a non-transitory memorydevice. A memory device includes memory space within a single physicalstorage device or memory space spread across multiple physical storagedevices.

Software instructions may be read into memory 330 and/or storagecomponent 340 from another computer-readable medium or from anotherdevice via communication interface 370. When executed, softwareinstructions stored in memory 330 and/or storage component 340 may causeprocessor 320 to perform one or more processes described herein.Additionally, or alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in placeof or in combination with software instructions to perform one or moreprocesses described herein. Thus, implementations described herein arenot limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry andsoftware.

The number and arrangement of components shown in FIG. 3 are provided asan example. In practice, device 300 may include additional components,fewer components, different components, or differently arrangedcomponents than those shown in FIG. 3. Additionally, or alternatively, aset of components (e.g., one or more components) of device 300 mayperform one or more functions described as being performed by anotherset of components of device 300.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an example process 400 for protecting privateinformation provided on a transaction card and/or a document with areflective element. In some implementations, one or more process blocksof FIG. 4 may be performed by device 210. In some implementations, oneor more process blocks of FIG. 4 may be performed by another device or agroup of devices separate from or including device 210.

As shown in FIG. 4, process 400 may include determining a surface areaof a surface of a substrate (block 410). For example, device 210 (e.g.,using processor 320, memory 330, storage component 340, input component350, and/or the like) may determine a first surface area of a surface ofsubstrate 105, where the substrate may include a body of a transactioncard or paper of a document, and the surface of substrate 105 mayinclude private information 110 that encompasses a second surface areaof the surface, as described above in connection with FIGS. 1A-1I.

As further shown in FIG. 4, process 400 may include determining asurface area of private information provided on the surface of thesubstrate (block 420). For example, device 210 (e.g., using processor320, memory 330, storage component 340, input component 350, and/or thelike) may determine the second surface area encompassed by privateinformation 110, and the second surface area may be less than the firstsurface area, as described above in connection with FIGS. 1A-1I.

As further shown in FIG. 4, process 400 may include calculating asurface area of a reflective element to be applied to the substrate,based on the surface area of the surface of the substrate and/or thesurface area of the private information (block 430). For example, device210 (e.g., using processor 320, memory 330, storage component 340, inputcomponent 350, and/or the like) may calculate a third surface area of areflective element 130 to be applied to substrate 105, and the thirdsurface area may be calculated based on the first surface area and/orthe second surface area, as described above in connection with FIGS.1A-1I.

As further shown in FIG. 4, process 400 may include applying thereflective element to the surface of the substrate to enable thereflective element to reflect light away from the private informationand to prevent theft of the private information (block 440). Forexample, device 210 (e.g., using processor 320, memory 330, storagecomponent 340, input component 350, and/or the like) may applyreflective element 130 to the surface of substrate 105, and reflectiveelement 105 may reflect light away from private information 110, asdescribed above in connection with FIGS. 1A-1I.

Process 400 may include additional implementations, such as any singleimplementation or any combination of implementations described below.

In some implementations, the reflective element of a transaction cardmay include biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate, aluminum,reflective micro-glass beads, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, lithopone,and/or the like. In some implementations, the private information,provided on the transaction card, may include a name of a userassociated with the transaction card, an account number associated withthe transaction card, a card security code associated with thetransaction card, an expiration date associated with the transactioncard. In some implementations, the reflective element of the transactioncard may include an adhesive material for adhering the reflectiveelement to the surface of the card body of the transaction card. In someimplementations, the reflective element of the transaction card mayinclude a reflective material that is applied to the surface of the cardbody of the transaction card. In some implementations, the third surfacearea of the reflective element may enable the reflective element toprevent an image capture device from capturing an image of the privateinformation. In some implementations, the third surface area is separatefrom the second surface area.

In some implementations, the reflective element of a confidentialdocument may include biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate,aluminum, reflective micro-glass beads, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide,lithopone, and/or the like. In some implementations, the privateinformation, provided on the confidential document, may includefinancial information associated with an entity, intellectual propertyinformation associated with the entity, manufacturing informationassociated with the entity, operations information associated with theentity, customer information associated with the entity, and/or thelike. In some implementations, the reflective element of theconfidential document may include an adhesive material for adhering thereflective element to the surface of the document substrate of theconfidential document. In some implementations, the reflective elementof the confidential document may include a reflective material that isapplied to the surface of the document substrate of the confidentialdocument. In some implementations, the reflective element of theconfidential document may include a reflective material that is embeddedwithin the document substrate, of the confidential document, as awatermark. In some implementations, the third surface area of thereflective element may enable the reflective element to prevent an imagecapture device from capturing an image of the private information.

In some implementations, a reflective element of a substrate may includebiaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate, aluminum, reflectivemicro-glass beads, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, lithopone, and/or thelike. In some implementations, when applying the reflective element tothe surface of the substrate, a device may utilize an adhesive materialto adhere the reflective element to the surface of the substrate. Insome implementations, the reflective element may include a reflectivematerial, and, when applying the reflective element to the surface ofthe substrate, the device may apply the reflective material to thesurface of the substrate. In some implementations, the reflectiveelement may prevent an image capture device from capturing an image ofprivate information. In some implementations, the third surface area maybe separate from the second surface area.

Although FIG. 4 shows example blocks of process 400, in someimplementations, process 400 may include additional blocks, fewerblocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than thosedepicted in FIG. 4. Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of theblocks of process 400 may be performed in parallel.

Some implementations described herein may protect private information,provided on a transaction card and/or a document, using a reflectiveelement. For example, a transaction card may include a card body and areflective element. The card body may include a surface with a firstsurface area, and the surface of the card body may include privateinformation that encompasses a second surface area of the surface. Thereflective element may be applied to the surface of the card body, andmay include a third surface area. The third surface area may enable thereflective element to reflect light away from the private information.In another example, a document may include a document substrate and areflective element. The document substrate may include a surface with afirst surface area, and the surface of the document substrate mayinclude private information that encompasses a second surface area ofthe surface. The reflective element may be applied to the surface of thedocument substrate or embedded within the document substrate, and mayinclude a third surface area. The third surface area may enable thereflective element to reflect light away from the private information.

The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to theprecise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible inlight of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of theimplementations.

As used herein, the term component is intended to be broadly construedas hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software.

It will be apparent that systems and/or methods, described herein, maybe implemented in different forms of hardware, firmware, or acombination of hardware and software. The actual specialized controlhardware or software code used to implement these systems and/or methodsis not limiting of the implementations. Thus, the operation and behaviorof the systems and/or methods were described herein without reference tospecific software code—it being understood that software and hardwaremay be designed to implement the systems and/or methods based on thedescription herein.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in theclaims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are notintended to limit the disclosure of possible implementations. In fact,many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recitedin the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although eachdependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, thedisclosure of possible implementations includes each dependent claim incombination with every other claim in the claim set.

No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed ascritical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as usedherein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or moreitems, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Furthermore,as used herein, the term “set” is intended to include one or more items(e.g., related items, unrelated items, a combination of related andunrelated items, etc.), and may be used interchangeably with “one ormore.” Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similarlanguage is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,”“having,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, thephrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on”unless explicitly stated otherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. A transaction card, comprising: a card body, thecard body including a surface, the surface of the card body includingprivate information that encompasses a first surface area of thesurface; and a reflective element, the reflective element being appliedto the surface of the card body, the reflective element including asecond surface area, the second surface area enabling the reflectiveelement to reflect light away from the private information other than aportion of the surface where the reflective element is applied, and thesecond surface area being at a distance from the first surface area, andthe reflective element enabling a visible image of the reflectiveelement when an image is captured to preclude obtaining an image of theprivate information.
 2. The transaction card of claim 1, where thedistance is calculated based upon one or more of: a size of thereflective element, a size of the private information, or a size of thesurface.
 3. The transaction card of claim 1, where the reflectiveelement includes one or more of: biaxially oriented polyethyleneterephthalate, aluminum, reflective micro-glass beads, titanium dioxide,zinc oxide, or lithopone.
 4. The transaction card of claim 1, where theprivate information includes one or more of: a name of a user associatedwith the transaction card, an account number associated with thetransaction card, a card security code associated with the transactioncard, or an expiration date associated with the transaction card.
 5. Thetransaction card of claim 1, where the reflective element includes anadhesive material for adhering the reflective element to the surface ofthe card body.
 6. The transaction card of claim 1, where the reflectiveelement includes a reflective material that is applied to the surface ofthe card body.
 7. The transaction card of claim 1, where the secondsurface area of the reflective element enables the reflective element toprevent an image capture device from capturing an image of the privateinformation.
 8. A document, comprising: a document substrate, thedocument substrate including a surface, the surface of the documentsubstrate including private information that encompasses a first surfacearea of the surface; and a reflective element, the reflective elementbeing applied to the surface of the document substrate or embeddedwithin the document substrate, the reflective element including a secondsurface area, the second surface area enabling the reflective element toreflect light away from the private information, and the second surfacearea being at a distance from the first surface area, and the reflectiveelement enabling a visible image of the reflective element when an imageis captured to preclude obtaining an image of the private information.9. The document of claim 8, where the reflective element includes areflective material that is embedded within the document substrate as awatermark.
 10. The document of claim 8, where the distance is calculatedbased upon one or more of: a size of the reflective element, a size ofthe private information, or a size of the surface.
 11. The document ofclaim 8, where the reflective element includes one or more of: biaxiallyoriented polyethylene terephthalate, aluminum, reflective micro-glassbeads, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or lithopone.
 12. The document ofclaim 8, where the private information includes one or more of:financial information associated with an entity, intellectual propertyinformation associated with the entity, manufacturing informationassociated with the entity, operations information associated with theentity, or customer information associated with the entity.
 13. Thedocument of claim 8, where the reflective element includes an adhesivematerial for adhering the reflective element to the surface of thedocument substrate.
 14. The document of claim 8, where the reflectiveelement includes a reflective material that is applied to the surface ofthe document substrate.
 15. A method, comprising: determining, by adevice, a first surface area of a surface of a substrate, the substrateincluding a body of a transaction card or paper of a document, and thesurface of the substrate including private information that encompassesthe first surface area of the surface; calculating, by the device, asecond surface area of a reflective element to be applied to thesubstrate, the second surface area being calculated based on the firstsurface area; and applying, by the device, the reflective element to thesecond surface area of the substrate, the reflective element to reflectlight away from the private information from the first surface area, andthe reflective element enabling a visible image of the reflectiveelement when an image is captured to preclude obtaining an image of theprivate information.
 16. The method of claim 15, where the secondsurface area is at a distance from the first surface area.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, where the distance is calculated based upon one ormore of: a size of the reflective element, a size of the privateinformation, or a size of the substrate.
 18. The method of claim 15,where the reflective element includes a reflective material; andapplying the reflective element to the second surface area of thesubstrate comprises: applying the reflective material to the secondsurface area of the substrate.
 19. The method of claim 15, where thereflective element includes one or more of: biaxially orientedpolyethylene terephthalate, aluminum, reflective micro-glass beads,titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or lithopone.
 20. The method of claim 15,where applying the reflective element to the surface of the substratecomprises: utilizing an adhesive material to adhere the reflectiveelement to the surface of the substrate.